Bosc pear--Wimmers cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Bosc pear is provided which originated as a whole tree mutation. The fruit of the new variety assumes a uniform russet appearance at least one month earlier than other Bosc pear varieties, and when ripened exhibits a more bronze coloration as illustrated. The fruit of the new variety exhibits small inconspicuous dots on its surface and its surface exhibits a slightly roughened texture. Commonly the fruit is ready for picking approximately one week later than that of the standard Bosc pear variety. Also, the fruit of the new variety when ripened tends to exhibit a higher soluble solids content and tends to be sweeter than that of other Bosc pear varieties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinctive variety of the present invention resulted as awhole tree mutation of unknown causation. More specifically, the newvariety was discovered by me during 1980 while growing among trees ofthe standard Bosc pear variety and trees of the Bartlett pear variety inmy orchard located at 2500 Reed Road, Hood River, Oreg. The Bosc peartrees which included the tree of my discovery had originally beenplanted as young whips during about 1970. The standard Bosc pear varietyfrom which the new variety likely was derived sometimes is known as theOP-5 Bosc pear variety and is non-patented in the United States. Suchstandard Bosc variety is believed to have been selected by scientists atOregon State University and the United States Department of Agriculturebecause of its favorable fruit characteristics and freedom from thestony pit virus. Had I not discovered and preserved this new variety, itwould have been lost to mankind.

The new variety bears quality pears which (a) assume a uniform russetappearance at least one month earlier than other known Bosc pearvarieties, (b) assume an attractive bronze coloration as illustratedwhen ripened, (c) bear small inconspicuous dots on the fruit surface,(d) exhibit a slightly roughened surface texture, (e) tend to exhibit ahigher soluble solids content when ripened than other Bosc pearvarieties, (f) tend to be sweeter than other known Bosc pear varieites,and (g) are ready for picking approximately one week later than thestandard Bosc pear variety.

The fruit of the new variety has been found to russet much earlier thanother Bosc pear selections. For instance, during 1989 a definite russetbegan to appear on fruit of the new variety on June 2nd. In contrast,the russet on the fruit of the Golden Russet variety of Bosc pear (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 5,243) was not obviously apparent until July, and therusset on the fruit of the standard Bosc pear variety was not obviouslyapparent until August. The russet on the fruit of the new varietyinitially appears as a much more solid and complete russet than on otherBosc pear varieties. When one removes the outer surface of the skin ofthe new variety with a knife soon after the russet coloration appears, adark green coloration commonly tends to persist under the russetcoloration. However, as the fruit of the new variety ripens and as therusset on the fruit surface blends deeper into the skin, such underlyingdark green coloration diminishes and is no longer as apparent. Theultimate bronze coloration assumed by the fully ripened fruit of the newvariety can be readily distinguished from the more coppery fruitcoloration of the Golden Russet variety of Bosc pear (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,243).

The fruit surface of the Golden Russet variety of Bosc pear tends to besmooth in contrast to slight roughness to the hand exhibited by thefruit surface of the new variety.

The fruit pressure of the new variety tends to be greater than that ofother Bosc pear varieties and tends to provide a firmer fruit at thetime of picking. Also, after ripening the fruit of the new variety tendsto have a higher concentration of soluble solids and total acids thanother Bosc pear varieties.

As with other pear varieties, the time for picking of the fruit of thenew variety in the fall is dependent somewhat on the weather conditionswhich influence the time for blossoming in the spring. Generally, it hasbeen found that the new variety should be picked about one week laterthan the standard Bosc pear variety (i.e., OP-5 Bosc variety). Optimumharvest times for the new variety at Hood River, Oreg., in recent yearshave been as follows:

1987--September 14th,

1988--September 27th, and

1989--September 26th.

The original tree of the new variety has been carefully preserved.Additional trees of the new variety have been asexually reproduced atHood River, Oreg., by topworking onto existing trees, both young andold. The characteristics of the new variety have been confirmed to bestably transmitted in a true-to-type manner through such grafting.Following propagation the fruit formed on the new trees the fruitcontinues to exhibit the same distinctive characteristics as theoriginal tree.

The new variety has been named the Wimmers cultivar. It is anticipatedthat trees and fruit of the new variety will be marketed in the UnitedStates under the BRONZE BEAUTY trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietyin color as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in acolor illustration of this character. The photographs were obtained atHood River, Oreg.

FIG. 1 illustrates for comparative purposes typical unripened fruits andfoliage of the new variety as they appeared on Aug. 18, 1989 togetherwith a single fruit of the standard Bosc pear variety. The fruits of thenew variety are present on the right and on the left and a single fruitof the standard Bosc pear variety is present at the center. It will beobserved that the fruit of the new variety, unlike that of the standardBosc pear variety, has already begun to assume a russet appearance.

FIG. 2 illustrates a representative unripened fruit and foliage of thenew variety as they appeared later in the growing season on Sept. 5,1989. It will be observed that the russet coloration of the fruit hasfurther intensified.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cluster of representative fruits and foliage of thenew variety at harvest time (i.e., on Sept. 27, 1989). The attractivebronze coloration of the fruit is apparent.

FIG. 4 illustrates for comparative purposes typical fruits of the newvariety and the Golden Russet variety of Bosc pear (U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,243) on approximately Nov. 20, 1989 following cold storage and furtherripening. Such fruits are ready to eat. The fruits of the new varietyare on the left and the fruits of the Golden Russet variety of Bosc pearare on the right. It will be observed that the new variety exhibits abronze coloration and the fruits of the Golden Russet variety of Boscpear exhibit a more coppery coloration.

FIG. 5 illustrates for comparative purposes typical fruits of the newvariety and the Golden Russet variety of Bosc pear while whole and inlongitudinal and transverse cross-sections on approximately Nov. 20,1989 following cold storage and further ripening. Such fruits are readyto eat. The fruits of the new variety are on the left and the fruits ofthe Golden Russet variety of Bosc pear are on the right. Once again thebronze coloration of the new variety vs. the more coppery coloration ofthe Golden Russet variety of Bosc pear is apparent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new variety'scharacteristics as observed at Hood River, Oreg. The color terminologyis in accordance with the Munsell Book of Color except where generalcolor terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Tree:

Size.--Medium to large.

Vigor.--Similar to standard Bosc pear variety.

Form.--Upright and spreading.

Growth.--Moderate.

Hardiness.--Similar to standard Bosc pear variety, moderately large.

Production.--Very productive.

Bearing.--Late, somewhat regular bearer.

Trunk:

Form.--Straight.

Size.--Stocky.

Texture.--Medium smooth.

Branches:

Main branches.--Stocky, spreading, thick, and strong.

Lateral branches.--Spreading, smooth, medium thick, and covered withgray skin.

Branchlets.--Glossy-brown, smooth, and glabrous.

Lenticels.--Large, raised, and obvious.

Leaves:

Size.--Medium, average length approximately 7.87 cm. (approximately 3.09inches), and average width approximately 5.18 cm. (approximately 2.04inches).

Form.--Ovate.

Apex.--Taper-pointed.

Thickness.--Medium-thick.

Pubescence.--None.

Texture.--Smooth, leathery.

Margin.--Finely serrate, toothed.

Petiole.--Slender, medium-thick, average length approximately 3.85 cm.(approximately 1.51 inch).

Color.--Upper surface is medium green, 7.5 gy 3/4, and under surface islighter green, 5 gy 6/4.

Leaf-buds.--Form is obtuse, pointed, and appressed.

Leaf-scars.--Prominent.

Flowers:

Size.--Large.

Color.--White and showy.

Petals.--Obovate and broad.

Pedicels.--Light green.

Fertility.--Fertile, but requires cross-pollination for good crop andgood fruit size.

Buds.--Large, pointed and conical.

Fruit:

Date of first picking.--Sept. 20th in 1989.

Date of last picking.--Sept. 30th in 1989.

Retention.--Like all Bosc pear varieties is subject to drop.

Size.--Large, average length is approximately 10.1 cm. (approximately3.9 inches) and average width is approximately 6.78 cm. (approximately2.7 inches).

Form.--Acute, ovate, pyriform, and has long and tapered neck asillustrated.

Stem.--Curved, slender, and average in length.

Color.--Bronze brown overall, 2.5 y 4/4, at harvest.

Cavity.--Obtuse or lacking, shallow and narrow, and russeted.

Calyx.--Small and open.

Lobes.--Persistent, short, broad, and obtuse.

Basin.--Shallow, narrow, obtuse, smooth, and russeted.

Skin:

Texture.--Granular.

Color.--Overall bronze-tinted unbroken heavy russet surface, 2.5 y 4/4at harvest with no yellow or green ground color, and 7.5 yr 5/8 afterripening. Lacks uneven patch effect of the standard Bosc pear variety(i.e., OP-5 Bosc pear variety).

Dots.--Small and inconspicuous.

Flesh:

Color.--2.5 gy 9/2 at harvest and 7.5 y 9/2 after ripening.

Texture.--Juicy, buttery, melting, and slightly granular.

Flavor.--Excellent.

Eating quality.--Excellent, delicious when properly ripened.

Core.--Large, elliptical, clasping corelines, bluntly pointed at calyxend, long pointed at stem end, and fleshy between seeds.

Calyx tube.--Short, wide, and conical.

Seed.--Short and obtuse.

Color.--Dark Brown, 7.5 y 9/2, and 7.5 yr 2/4 after ripening.

Use: Fresh market, dessert, shipping.

Keeping quality: Best.

Shipping quality: Best.

Resistance to insects and diseases: Similar to the standard Bosc pearvariety (i.e., OP-5 Bosc pear variety), resistant to scab and mildew,subject to fire blight, and medium resistance to psylla and mites.

The fruit of the new variety exhibits a distinctive solid and heavyoverall bronze appearance. This uniform russet appears at least onemonth prior to the formation of russet on other Bosc pear varieties. Therusset on the fruit of the new variety becomes less dominant as thefruit ripens and then becomes well blended with the fruit's overallappearance.

When representative fruits of the new variety and of the standard Boscpear variety (i.e., OP-5 Bosc pear variety) harvested in 1987 weretested for firmness, soluble solids content, and total acid content, thevalues reported in TABLE I were obtained.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                                          Soluble Solids                                                                             Total Acid                                                Firmness                                                                             Content      Content                                                   (pounds)                                                                             (percent)    (meq.)                                         ______________________________________                                        At Harvest                                                                    September 14, 1987                                                            Wimmers Cultivar                                                                           13.3     13.6         3.1                                        OP-5 Bosc Pear                                                                             12.1     11.6         2.2                                        Variety                                                                       After 3 Months Cold                                                           Storage and Before                                                            Ripening                                                                      Wimmers Cultivar                                                                           11.7     16.1         3.0                                        OP-5 Bosc Pear                                                                             9.2      14.2         1.6                                        Variety                                                                       After 3 Months Cold                                                           Storage and After                                                             Ripening                                                                      Wimmers Cultivar                                                                           3.4      15.9         2.4                                        OP-5 Bosc Pear                                                                             4.6      14.2         1.7                                        Variety                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

When representative fruits of the new variety and of the standard Boscpear variety (i.e., OP-5 Bosc pear variety) harvested in 1988 weretested for firmness, extractable juices, soluble solids content, andtotal acid content, the average values reported in TABLE II wereobtained.

                  TABLE II                                                        ______________________________________                                                          Extrac-  Soluble  Total                                                       table    Solids   Acid                                                 Firmness                                                                             Juices   Content  Content                                              (pounds)                                                                             (meq.)   (percent)                                                                              (meq.)                                    ______________________________________                                        After Cold Storage                                                            and 1 Day @ 20° C.                                                     December 5, 1988                                                              Wimmers Cultivar                                                                           14.69    59.3     15.23  2.49                                    OP-5 Bosc Pear                                                                             12.27    64.8     12.77  1.71                                    Variety                                                                       After Cold Storage                                                            and 7 Days @ 20° C.                                                    December 7, 1988                                                              Wimmers Cultivar                                                                           4.14     69.0     14.67  2.66                                    OP-5 Bosc Pear                                                                             4.36     71.6     12.7   1.62                                    Variety                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

When representative fruits of the new variety and of the standard Boscpear variety (i.e., OP-5 Bosc pear variety) from the 1988 and 1989harvests were analyzed for firmness on various days during the growingseason, the values reported in TABLE III were obtained.

                  TABLE III                                                       ______________________________________                                                Wimmers Cultivar                                                                           OP-5 Bosc Pear Variety                                           Firmness     Firmness                                                         (pounds)     (pounds)                                                 ______________________________________                                        1988                                                                          September 11th                                                                          17.4           16.3                                                 September 17th                                                                          16.5           15.0                                                 September 27th                                                                          13.6           12.2                                                 1989                                                                          September 7th                                                                           15.9           14.6                                                 September 15th                                                                          15.7           14.0                                                 September 20th                                                                          14.5            13.0*                                               September 26th                                                                          14.1*          --                                                   ______________________________________                                         *= Harvested                                                             

When representative fruits of the new variety and of the Golden Russetvariety of Bosc pear (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,243) harvested in 1989 weretested for firmness, extractable juices, soluble solid content, andtotal acid content, the average values reported in TABLE IV wereobtained.

                  TABLE IV                                                        ______________________________________                                                         Extrac-  Soluble  Total                                                       table    Solids   Acids                                      Firmness         Juices   Content  Content                                    (pounds)         (meq.)   (percent)                                                                              (meq.)                                     ______________________________________                                        On October 12, 1989                                                           After Harvest on                                                              September 26, 1989                                                            and Cold Storage                                                              Wimmers Cultivar                                                                          14.1     66.8     15.03  3.06                                     Golden Russet                                                                             13.5     71.7     14.67  3.32                                     Variety                                                                       On October 20, 1989                                                           After Harvest on                                                              September 26, 1989,                                                           Cold Storage and                                                              7 days at 68° F.                                                       Wimmers Cultivar                                                                          3.10     54.8     15.8   3.18                                     Golden Russet                                                                             2.58     57.6     14.7   3.11                                     Variety                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Accordingly, the fruit of the new variety when subjected to cold storageand ripening has been shown to exhibit highly attractive analyticalvalues.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pear tree which is believed tobe a whole tree mutation of the standard Bosc pear variety,substantially as illustrated and described, capable of forming qualityfruit which (a) assumes a uniform russet appearance at least one monthearlier than other known Bosc pear varieties, (b) assumes an attractivebronze coloration when ripened, (c) bears small inconspicuous dots onthe fruit surface, (d) exhibits a slightly roughened surface texture,(e) tends to exhibit a higher soluble solids content when ripened thanother known Bosc pear varieties, (f) tends to be sweeter than otherknown Bosc pear varieties, and (g) is ready for picking approximatelyone week later than the standard Bosc pear variety.